Pedal-powered taxis potential congestion solution
Brisbane city planners should take note from London, New York and Berlin and look more closely at eco-friendly pedicabs as regular CBD transport for short trip lengths, says a Queensland University of Technology transport planning PhD student.
Velotaxis, cyclos, bicycle taxis, or cycle rickshaws, they have many names but Mamun Rahman, from QUT's School of Urban Development, say pedicabs - three-wheel, bicycle driven cabs carrying up to two passengers - are picking up speed as a CBD and surrounding area transport option in major western cities.
"Pedicabs are making the transition from novelty to serious transport because they offer fast, cheap, emission-free transport. It makes sense to investigate regulating and integrating them into the Brisbane CBD transport system," Mr Rahman said. He is part of a research team investigating the use of pedicabs with Professor Glen D'Este and Dr Jonathan Bunker.
"CBD congestion will increase in future. Many cities are introducing higher parking charges and considering the use of road pricing or a 'congestion tax', especially for city inbound private vehicles to combat the changing traffic conditions.
"Eco-sustainable modes like pedicabs could have a role in the public transport system of Brisbane and other Australian cities.
"A pedicab service would of course have to be licensed and regulated like other vehicles for safety and smooth operation. A separate payment system would also probably be the better way rather than integrating with bus/train/ferry ticketing."
Mr Rahman's paper titled Is There a Future for Non-Motorized Public Transport in Asia? won the Outstanding Paper Presentation award in November 2009 at the 8th International Conference of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, in Indonesia.
His paper highlighted the re-emergence of non-motorised public transport such as pedicabs in the developed countries of Japan, England, Germany, Holland and parts of North America. The paper also looked at the ongoing role cycle rickshaws have in the transport systems of some developing countries such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Columbia and Cuba.
"This shift is due to factors such as eco-sustainability and operating flexibility because pedicabs can go where motor vehicles are discouraged or restricted," Mr Rahman said.
He said that a tourist-oriented pedicab service - Green Cabs - was already operating in the Brisbane CBD on weekends from Friday evening to Sunday night.
"Green Cabs usually run between West End and the Valley and along the Brisbane River, and are proving pretty popular. But in future pedicabs might have the potential to grow and merge with the regular transport system in specific parts of the network," Mr Rahman said.
"Pedicabs are particularly suited for short trips of two to three kilometres long around town. For someone at QPAC who wants to get quickly to, say, Roma Street Station a pedicab would be ideal, especially on a hot day when walking is not much fun and they can go in a breezy cab.
"Pedicabs are non-polluting and they add a separate dynamic to the urban fabric. They might fit right into Brisbane which is a walk-friendly city and has the strong endorsement of the city council for active and green transport modes."
QUT News was source of story and other information.
What a great idea.
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